On the Ted Radio hour, linguist Ann Curzan says she gets a lot of complaints about people using the pronoun they to refer to one person.
I sometimes get into arguments with people where they will say to me, but it can't be singular.
And I will say, but it is.
The history behind words causing a lot of debate.
That's on the Ted radio hour from NPR.
This is fresh air.
I'm Terry Gross.
Our guest is a co founder of the feminist punk rock riot girl movement, musician, writer and artist Kathleen Hanna.
Her new memoir is called Rebel Girl, which is also the name of one of the best known songs by her band Bikini Kill.
Kathleen Hanna spoke about her life and work with fresh airs.
ANne Marie Boldonado, we're bikini kill and we want revolution.
Girl Star no.
Hey, girlfriend, I gotta promise they can go something like this.
Tell you to do what you tell you to be who you will tell you to cry right out loud.
Y'all got sour motion on baby.
Kathleen Hanna has always been a force.
She burst onto the music scene in the nineties as the front woman of Bikini Kill, a band that fearlessly confronted issues of sexism and sexual assault while encouraging female empowerment through their music.
Her raw vocals and unapologetic lyrics helped challenge punk rock norms and inspired others to do so as well.
Bikini Kill, along with other feminist punk bands, encouraged their fans to come to shows, write zines and form girl bands of their own as a way to fight the sexism that existed in punk and in wider society in general.
Hannah created a space for young women to express themselves, fight against misogyny, and build community.